Fight Back; Post/List Where The Parts You Bought Were Made - Page 9 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diesel911 · #1 07-14-2013, 10:56 AM

Upper Control Arms for My 84 300D- I ask the Sellers on eBay which Country the Upper Control Arms are made in:
Moog Upper Control Arm Made in the USA

AC Upper Control Arm made in Italy

Dorman Upper Control Arm are made in China

Movotech Upper Control Arm China

I had long suspected that the Dorman Product was Made in China but previously had not taken the time to ask.
The Moog Drag Links I bought for My Chevy Van were also Made in the USA. I don't know if that means all Moog products are US made or not.

FrankM · #2 07-14-2013, 01:04 PM

I am at the point where now I do not even believe where the box says it made.

I called a vendor recently, he was selling a dual mass flywheel and clutch for $350. Worth over $1200 list at the dealer.
I asked where the flywheel was made, he said: "the box says made in Germany"
I was under the impression he didn't believe the box claims either.

This is the same vendor that sold me a Febi stabilizer link with the sealed package saying it was made in Germany. It was obviously not made in Germany.
To their credit, they made good for it at that time.
see post #54

Skid Row Joe · #3 07-15-2013, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankM

I am at the point where now I do not even believe where the box says it made.

I called a vendor recently, he was selling a dual mass flywheel and clutch for $350. Worth over $1200 list at the dealer.
I asked where the flywheel was made, he said: "the box says made in Germany"
I was under the impression he didn't believe the box claims either.

This is the same vendor that sold me a Febi stabilizer link with the sealed package saying it was made in Germany. It was obviously not made in Germany.
To their credit, they made good for it at that time.
see post #54

There's no reason to believe that anything isn't re-packaged and sold as something other than it actually is.

Following the manufacturing Country of origin, it's licensing or OEM agreements (if any) with the original manufacturer, and following it's shipping channels could be a challenge, if possible at all.

Some products are re-labelled once they hit the U.S. shores. It happens all the time in several of the industries I have been involved in as a U.S. based agent of many product lines. There are some customers that are only interested in replication and price, not quality. For these customers, it is just too easy to give them what they want - procure a product that is something to just move down the line. Since, they already identified their mode of business requirements to do business with them. Quantity (volume) and price over quality.

The byword we go by is that if you cannot trust the vendor or source for OEM you are dealing with for accurate information, and product reliability, then indeed you are sunk. You have no idea what you are buying, or, selling to your customer base in North America.

What is coveted is running across large caches of genuine NOS when it comes to replacement automotive parts. On NOS, profits and margins are created on three things; price, availability, and volume. In Japanese MC parts, NOS is the Holy Grail to have access to.

Mark DiSilvestro · #4 07-15-2013, 08:59 AM

I guess simply not knowing the country of origin may be worse than what happened with the box of that new, hard-as-a-rock, 240D flex-disc I returned. Just below some German writing, was a black marker streak, where someone had attempted to hide the words "Made in China"!

Happy Motoring, Mark

JamesDean · #5 07-15-2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

I guess simply not knowing the country of origin may be worse than what happened with the box of that new, hard-as-a-rock, 240D flex-disc I returned. Where just below some German writing, was a black marker stripe attempting to hide the words "Made in China"!

Happy Motoring, Mark

What was the brand name on the box?

Mark DiSilvestro · #6 07-14-2013, 01:22 PM

On my regular trip to Virginia Beach about once a month, I pass through Richmond, where there exists the only O'Reilly's auto parts store in Virginia.
When I needed a pair of front stabilizer links for my '96 Camry, O'Reilly's price was about half of what my local Alexandria stores wanted for the usuall China/Taiwan stuff. So I decided to get them there and was pleasetly suprised to find the parts tagged 'Made in Japan'.
Unfortunately, one of those wore out in less than two years. So I returned it under my limited O'Reilly's lifetime warranty and the replacement is now 'Made in China'.

The new waterpump I installed on the Camry last year was 'Made in Thailand'. Just hope it lasts at least as long as the previous Japanese one I installed on this car six years ago.

Oh Well!

Happy Motoring, Mark

JamesDean · #7 07-14-2013, 02:01 PM

Just bought a pair of BALO rotors for my 300D. Made In Germany! Also bought a pair of PAGID pads, not sure where they came from though.

gsxr · #8 07-15-2013, 07:39 PM

My favorite is "Made In Unknown":

Genuine Mercedes W124 strut mount - made in Germany:

Vemo fan clutch:

"ACM Germany" fan clutch, no country of origin on box or clutch:

gsxr · #9 07-15-2013, 08:09 PM

Meistersatz is most definitely not ok... no matter what they make (or more accurately, what they rebox).

sleepstar · #10 07-18-2013, 06:37 PM

w123 rear sway bar links, lemfoerder, made in czech republic

Mark DiSilvestro · #11 07-20-2013, 03:55 PM

Awhile back, I got a new aftermarket hood star from my local indie MB parts-place for a friend's '72 W115 220. (No country of origin on the bag)
But after a few years the chrome blistered and peeled, then the pot-metal crumbled and snapped off.
So when I needed a new star for my '82 W123 240D, I got one for $34 from my local Mercedes dealer.
(Made in Turkey by the way!)
Next time I stopped at my indie MB parts-place for something, there was that exact same box and 'Made in Turkey' hood star, waiting on the counter for another customer - for about $10 less than I paid!
Oh well....

Happy Motoring, Mark

whunter · #12 07-20-2013, 05:33 PM

W126 Front left master window switch.

Said made in Africa on the side.
Failed after three days.
While removing, all of the plastic crumbled to dust, the mess required a vacuum cleaner.

.

gsxr · #13 07-20-2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

W126 Front left master window switch.

Said made in Africa on the side. Failed after three days. While removing, all of the plastic crumbled to dust, the mess required a vacuum cleaner.

New or used? If new, what was the source of the no-brand switch?

whunter · #14 07-21-2013, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

New or used? If new, what was the source of the no-brand switch?

The cheapest internet vendor he could find.
I think he said $9.00 for the new window switch.

.

Skid Row Joe · #15 08-02-2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Awhile back, I got a new aftermarket hood star from my local indie MB parts-place for a friend's '72 W115 220. (No country of origin on the bag)
But after a few years the chrome blistered and peeled, then the pot-metal crumbled and snapped off.
So when I needed a new star for my '82 W123 240D, I got one for $34 from my local Mercedes dealer.
(Made in Turkey by the way!)
Next time I stopped at my indie MB parts-place for something, there was that exact same box and 'Made in Turkey' hood star, waiting on the counter for another customer - for about $10 less than I paid!
Oh well....

Happy Motoring, Mark

"Oh well, indeed".......if you (generic you) attempted to even get through 3 hours of one day w/o what is Made in China, well......you wouldn't. It's a worldwide/global goods marketplace, and something that is not worth fighting.

The fact of the matter is, that it would be hard to leave your homes clothed, w/o goods Made in Asian countries.

Them be the facts folks.